As the higher-seeded team, Northwood took the floor Thursday in its home whites and its score was displayed on the home side of the scoreboard. The Panthers made themselves at home under the boards, too, helping themselves to seconds on the offensive glass.

Northwood was able to get away with shooting 18 percent from the floor largely by its work on the backboards, and held off Galax 43-38 in the Region C Division 1 girls’ semifinals on the Maroon Tide’s court.

Playing two extra sessions for the second time in three games, Grayson County was eliminated one win short of a state tournament berth after a 77-75 loss to Graham in the Region C Division 2 semifinals Friday on the G-Men’s home floor.

Graham (18-7) advanced to Saturday’s championship game to meet Radford (24-2), a 58-51 winner over Glenvar in the first semifinal.

Save the goat
The caller that had the concern about the goat being tied in a field had a good point. I think this could have been a case of animal cruelty if animal control had looked in to it more closely. But, if animal control in Carroll County is no more responsive than animal control in Grayson County, then you shouldn’t count on them to be there very often.

HILLSVILLE — Some residents of the Sulphur Springs District are of two minds: they don’t want windmills, but they also won’t support zoning to keep them out, according to a discussion at the Carroll supervisors’ February meeting.
That’s making the way to address the windmill issue complicated, county officials discussed after Chairman David Hutchins shared with fellow supervisors the feedback he has received from citizens.

By SHAINA STOCKTON, Staff
In 2011, sighs of relief were breathed after Albany Industries, a living room furniture company headquartered in New Albany, Miss., brought its business to the former B.C. Vaughan plant in Galax, along with the promise of 335 jobs over a course of three years.
The news came after a string of furniture factory closings in a city built by the industry.
Today, Albany’s employee count is up to more than 150 and still climbing, says manager Mark Gosnell.

By SHAINA STOCKTON, Staff
It all began when John Ayers of Galax visited a brew pub in Charlotte, N.C.
He was used to beer that can be found in any grocery store, such as Budweiser, Coors and Miller, he said. But when he tried a variety of samplings at the restaurant, his enthusiasm for craft beer began.
After traveling and sampling the hundreds of brews that are available, he began crafting his own styles in preparation to start his own brewery back home.

HILLSVILLE — Growing up during the Great Depression, Velma Bowman Horton worked hard to get the dimes and nickels to go school and become an educator.
As a teacher and guidance counselor, Horton did her utmost — working constantly and tirelessly — to help Carroll County students get they best education they could, too.
That’s why friends and family believe that the Velma B. Horton Memorial Scholarship is the perfect way to honor the woman who helped countless people during her 40 years in education.

Two Independence women were injured, one seriously, in a Feb. 19 accident on Virginia Route 274 near Virginia 94, according to a Virginia State Police report.
The incident occurred at about 10 a.m. when 36-year-old Joy Hawks lost control of a 2002 Chevy Cavalier, went off the road to the right and struck a tree, according to a report by Trooper C.W. Keesling.
Both Hawks and a passenger, Destina Upchurch, were transported to Twin County Regional Hospital for treatment.
Hawks was transferred to another hospital by helicopter.
Charges are pending.